This Roman Catholic observance commemorates Pope Sylvester‘s consecration of the Basilica of the Most Holy Savior, commonly known as St. John Lateran, in Rome on November 9, 324. Churches as they are known today—that is, buildings set apart as places of worship—did not exist for the first two centuries of the Christian era; believers gathered in each other’s homes. Thus, the pope’s public dedication of this church at the beginning of the fourth century was a first in Christianity and merited a special celebration. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary